Cost of hiring in Wilmington, NC
BLS counts about 19,910 people in these 17 roles in Wilmington1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($89,120 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($34,260), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 2,850 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Wilmington
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -2.8% | 110 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -3.8% | 110 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -4.5% | 2,070 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.3% | 60 | |
| Accountant | -6.9% | 1,520 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -7.8% | 1,730 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.7% | 2,300 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -9.9% | 1,210 | |
| Paralegal | -10.9% | 580 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -11.6% | 130 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -11.8% | 880 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -12.8% | 2,700 | |
| Project Coordinator | -12.9% | 1,220 | |
| Office Manager | -13.1% | 1,250 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.9% | 2,850 | |
| Recruiter | -15.1% | 850 | |
| Executive Assistant | -17.8% | 340 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $38,100 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $49,161 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Wilmington against the US
Wilmington pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for e-commerce order specialists (-2.8%) and data entry specialists (-3.8%) and largest for executive assistants (-17.8%). The middle gap across all 17 is -10.9%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for sales development representatives, #110 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for bookkeepers, #380 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Wilmington has more medical administrative assistants (13.6% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and bookkeepers (11.6% against 8.7%), and fewer HR assistants (0.3% against 0.6%) and executive assistants (1.7% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Erie, PA is nearest, at -10.9%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | -10.7% | 17 | 8,420 |
| Wilmington, NC | -10.9% (this area) | 17 | 19,910 |
| Erie, PA | -10.9% | 17 | 9,750 |
| Roanoke, VA | -10.9% | 17 | 14,960 |
| Saginaw, MI | -10.9% | 17 | 8,170 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -11.0% | 17 | 28,700 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in Wilmington span $38,030–$154,990, the widest band (4.1×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,200–$50,330. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 17 roles, medical administrative assistants most ($35,930–$60,530 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, accountants and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($77,360 against a $64,520 median for sales development representatives).
Wilmington against North Carolina
Against North Carolina as a whole, Wilmington pays more only for sales development representatives (+3.0%), and less for 14, most of all recruiters (-11.8%). Its best rank within North Carolina is #3 of 18 areas, for sales development representatives.
Other areas in North Carolina
By jobs in these roles, Wilmington is #8 of 18 areas in North Carolina. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Durham-Chapel Hill to Greenville.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 37,280 | 17 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 37,170 | 17 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 26,040 | 17 |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,670 | 17 |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,250 | 17 |
| Asheville, NC | 18,810 | 17 |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 17,340 | 17 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | 12,690 | 17 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 11,520 | 17 |
| Greenville, NC | 7,660 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Wilmington?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $89,120 a year, about $114,994 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,260.
Is hiring in Wilmington cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-17.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.